She stepped out.
Simon crossed to the sink and washed his hands. When he was done, he dried them, then pulled on gloves. “It doesn’t take long to remove stitches. Assuming no complications, we should be out of here in about an hour. Would you like to go get coffee with me?”
She was so busy being sad, she almost missed the invitation. “I have Buddy,” she said, stumbling over the words.
“The Starbucks has outdoor seating.”
“Right. Um, sure. That would be nice.”
“Good.”
The first patient was brought into the room.
Her name was Mindy and she was twelve years old. Simon explained that she’d been cut by flying glass when a neighborhood kid had thrown a baseball through a plate-glass window. She had stitches along her jawline and down the side of her neck.
“That must have been scary,” Montana said as Mindy hugged Buddy.
“It was. There was blood everywhere.” She sounded both horrified and proud.
“We’re still getting it out of the carpet,” her mother joked.
Mindy climbed on the table. Simon pulled a chair up next to it and motioned for Buddy to jump up on the chair. Mindy wrapped her arms around him, while keeping the stitches facing Simon.
“What are you going to do this weekend?” he asked, as he began to snip the stitches.
Montana had never seen him work before and was impressed by how quickly he removed each stitch. There was a sureness in his movements. Utter confidence.
“We’re going to the Summer Festival,” Mindy said, her face turned away. “We go every year. It’s one of my favorites, although I like all the stuff we do at Christmas, too.”
“I’ve never been to Summer Festival.”
Shocked, she looked at him. “You have to go. It’s the best. There are rides and booths and elephant ears.”
“What are elephant ears?”
Her eyes widened. “They’re delicious. All warm, with powdered sugar.”
“They go right to my thighs,” her mother murmured.
“Ow.”
Simon’s fingers never slowed. “We’re almost done.”
Tears filled Mindy’s eyes. “Can you stop now?”
Buddy gently whimpered and pressed the top of his head against her chest.
She turned her attention to the dog. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m okay.”
“We’re done,” Simon told her.
Mindy looked startled. “That was quick. It didn’t really hurt that much. I was surprised is all.”
Her mother moved close and studied the work. “It barely shows and it’s not even finished healing.”
Simon nodded. “I’m not expecting her to have a scar. You have the instructions for what to do as soon as the scab falls off?”
“Yes.”
Mindy stared at her mother. “So I’ll still be pretty?”
Simon helped her down from the table. “You’re already beautiful. I don’t think there’s anything I could do to make you more beautiful. I’m not that talented.”
Mindy beamed at him, then hugged him. “Thank you. I was scared but this wasn’t bad at all.”
“I’m glad,” he told her with a smile.
He was so different with his patients, Montana thought. More himself—open and giving. It seemed that was the only place he allowed himself to relax. The rest of the time there was a wall between him and the world.
Mindy and her mother left. The nurse let in a small boy accompanied by a woman Montana would swear she recognized from the social services office. The boy had cuts all over his face and dozens of stitches.
Simon immediately dropped to a crouch and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Hello, Freddie.”
“Hi.”
The boy’s voice was soft and high-pitched. He was probably six or seven, skinny and small boned.
“I heard about your aunt coming to get you.”
Freddie’s mouth turned up but he didn’t actually smile. It took Montana a second to realize that because of all the cuts and stitches, he couldn’t.
“The judge said she could and she’s taking me back to Hawaii.” Freddie looked at the social worker. “My cousin Sean is my best friend, but Dad said I couldn’t see him anymore. Now I can.”
Simon motioned for Buddy to approach. “My friend Montana brought in a very special dog. His name is Buddy. He’s kind of scared to be in the hospital but when I told him about you, he wanted to visit anyway.”
Humor twinkled in Freddie’s eyes. “You can’t talk to dogs.”
“I’m a doctor, young man. I can do anything.” Simon turned to the dog. “Buddy, are you nervous?”
Buddy’s eyebrows drew together even more and he whimpered.
“Whoa.” Freddie looked impressed. “Okay, Buddy. Thanks for wanting to come see me.”
Buddy held out a paw to shake.
Simon helped the boy onto the table. This time Buddy jumped in the chair without being asked. Freddie put an arm around him and the dog leaned close.